What is trichinosis? What are symptoms of trichinosis?
Trichinosis (also termed trichinellosis, trichiniasis, or trichinelliasis) is a disease caused by parasites, called roundworms (Trichinella spp.), that can infect and damage many body tissues. Although the parasites can pass through the intestinal tract and other tissues, muscle tissues are where the majority of them persist. Trichinosis is usually characterized by two phases; the initial phase (intestinal) of abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, and nausea that begins one to two days after ingestion and the second phase (muscle) of muscle aches, itching, fever, chills, and joint pains that begins about two to eight weeks after ingestion. What causes trichinosis? Trichinosis is caused by Trichinella species (also termed parasitic nematodes, intestinal worms, and roundworms) that initially enter the body when meat containing the Trichinella cysts (rou…
